This was not a pulsating cup-tie to live long in the memory, but come the crunch a draw does put the Bees in the hat for tomorrow's second round draw. Unfortunately Barnet have to share the number 33 with Rochdale whose supporters, at the final whistle, sounded more pleased with their team's result than did the followers of the Bees.

Barnet started the tie with what is ostensibly a 4-5-1 formation, but it is one that allows in particular Neal Bishop and Albert Adomah licence to attack and in fairness it has worked well in recent away fixtures. The task that was set today was to find a way using a well road tested formation at home, at Underhill, to knock-out flying high in League 2 Rochdale.

Barnet today fell a little short of that standard, did not deserve to lose, a draw was a fair result, but it was all a little lack-lustre. The mystery bug that had laid low a few of the squad earlier this week may, in part, be a factor. Certainly post-match Paul Fairclough reported that the players did feel more drained and tired than is usually the case.

It was plain to see why Rochdale are having a good season, they possess two dangerous flank players in Adam Rundle and Will Buckley, their midfield is orchestrated by Gary Jones and upfront Chris Dagnall looked capable of capitalising of any lapse of concentration.

Early in the second half the Dale skipper Jones took charge of a situation out on the right. He then delivered an inviting centre into the heart of the Barnet defence which Dagnall latched onto and turned the ball goalwards, 1-0 to the visitors.

Perhaps the Barnet of earlier in the season would have crumbled when confronted by such a predicament, but slowly the Bees played their way back into the match and in the 67^th minute drew level.

A training ground drill routine free kick at the edge of the box again saw Nicky Deverdics send it a pile driver. Rather than be deflected into the net, as against Wycombe recently, the ball spun into the air. It fell kindly for Ismail Yakubu who crashed it into the net with the authority of a natural born finisher.

Rochdale nearly re-took the lead when Jones and Dagnall combined again but a home defeat would have been harsh.

After postponements aplenty last season Barnet had requested that the Football League when arranging the fixtures did not send the Bees to Rochdale during the winter months. The League duly obliged and Bees went north in August, but now, courtesy of The Football Association in November Barnet must punch in the Spotland postcode into their sat navs in ten days time.

It is back to League fare next Saturday when Notts County come a calling at Underhill.

A minute's silence before the game ahead of Remembrance Sunday was impeccably observed by one and all, the only discernable sound being the occasional ethereal clank of the turnstile.

David Bloomfield.